Let’s Get Crafty!

It's Kora here, and I am back with another Last Week at Connect, or, as I should say, the last few weeks of Connect! We recently started a new group, Connect: Arts & Crafts! Over the past few weeks, we have been able to do some really cool art projects, and the kids have bloomed into their artistic capabilities!

Week 1: Tissue Paper Multi-Coloured Lanterns

To kick off the group, we made tissue paper multi-coloured lanterns! We had a small group this evening, but volunteer, Angeline, was so eager to meet all the participants and engage in some fun crafts. The kids started the activity by choosing the colours they wanted for their lanterns. They tore the paper into the desired shapes and sizes and painted them on to the clear mason jars with a thin layer of glue. The last step was glitter! This was a fun and messy time... the group members chose as little or as much glitter as they wanted to add to their lanterns. With the lights low and the tea lights on, the kiddos could see their lanterns shine, enhanced by the glitter and colored tissue paper!

Week 2: String Painting and Oil Pastel Transfer

We started off the group with a string painting activity! The idea was to soak the string in different colours of paint, then lay the string out in random loopy formation. The second piece of card stock was placed on top, and then the string was pulled out. The string created a delicate paint streak that merged the colours together. Everyone's was unique and different! The kids each got two versions of their painting, that mirrored each other.

Next, each child was given oil pastels, pencils, and white paper for the oil pastel transfer activity. The kids had to completely colour a white piece of paper with the oil pastels, leaving no gaps and using a rainbow scheme. Once the paper was solid in colour, another piece of white paper was placed on top. The kids got to sketch on the top paper and make any design they wanted. Once the paper was lifted, the other side of the paper transferred their drawings into the colours of the pastels! Each one turned out incredible!

Week 3: Nail and Wood Art

With this small group of 3, and Volunteer, Angeline, we did some nail and wood art. The boys were first confused because they thought we were going to paint their finger nails, but we showed them we had something else in mind! We used some big rocks as hammers and they got to sketch out a shape with the nails and then filled it in with coloured string. This craft allowed complete creative freedom and got some good frustrations out with all the hammering. While they worked on their craft, they all chatted about their favorite video games, candy, and chocolate! Angeline also got the participants to help her choose her colors and shapes for her design!

---

So far, this group has been going super well! All the kids are just blowing us out of the water each week with their new creations.

September 14, 2023

-Kora, BigsNBC Programs Volunteer